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1966 Supreme(All) 55

Allahbad High Court
G.D.SAHGAL
Mulla Singh - Appellant
Versus
The State - Respondent
Decided On : 03/02/1966

Advocates:
S.C. Das, for Appellants; K.N. Kapoor, for the State.

An arrest made without a written order from the officer in charge of the police station, as required by Section 56(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is unlawful and can be resisted without committing any offense.

Headnote:

CRIMINAL LAW - ARREST - LEGALITY - ORAL ORDER BY POLICE OFFICER - SECTION 54 AND 56 OF THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - INTERPRETATION - RESISTING ARREST - OFFENCE - SECTION 224 OF THE INDIAN PENAL CODE - APPLICABILITY.

Fact of the Case:

The appellants were convicted of rioting, resisting or obstructing lawful apprehension, and causing injuries to police constables while they were attempting to arrest one Moti. The prosecution alleged that the appellants, upon hearing Moti's cries for help, rushed to his aid and rescued him from the constables, causing injuries to them in the process. The appellants denied the charges, claiming that the arrest was unlawful and that they were merely helping Moti to escape from being beaten by the constables.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the arrest of Moti was not lawful as the police constables did not have a written order from the officer in charge of the police station authorizing them to make the arrest, as required by Section 56(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The court also held that the provisions of Section 54(1), clauses first and ninthly, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allow police officers to arrest a person without a warrant in certain circumstances, were not applicable in this case as the constables did not have credible information or reasonable suspicion of Moti's involvement in any cognizable offense and the requisition from the officer in charge of the police station was not in writing.

Issues: 1. Whether the arrest of Moti was lawful. 2. Whether the appellants were justified in resisting the arrest. 3. Whether the appellants were guilty of causing injuries to the police constables.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the arrest of Moti was not lawful as the police constables did not have a written order from the officer in charge of the police station authorizing them to make the arrest, as required by Section 56(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 2. The court held that the appellants were justified in resisting the arrest as it was unlawful. 3. The court held that the appellants were not guilty of causing injuries to the police constables as they were acting in self-defense and in defense of Moti.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, set aside the convictions and sentences of the appellants, and discharged their bail bonds.

ORDER :- Mulla Singh, Bhabhuti Singh, son of Lalita Singh, Ram Bharosey Singh, Mangal Rai, Badri Bhurji, Debt, Ganga Prasad, Jagmohan, Bhabhuti Singh son of Himanchal Ram Charan, Prahlad Singh, Sriram, Surian Singh, Moti and Nanha have all been convicted by the IInd Additional Sessions Judge of Unnao of an offence under Section 147 Indian Penal Code i.e. rioting and have each been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year Out of them Moti has been convicted of an offence under Section 234 of the Indian Penal Code i.e. for resisting or obstructing his lawful apprehension and sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment. The other appellants except Moti have been convicted of an offence under Section 225 of the Indian, Penal Code read with Section 149 of that Code i.e. for resisting or obstructing lawful apprehension and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment each. They have all been convicted under two counts under Section 332 read with Section 149 of the Code and sentenced each to two years rigorous imprisonment under each of the two counts under this provision of law. They have further been convicted of an offence under Section 426 read with Section 149 and sentenced each to one months' rigorous imprisonment. All the sentences have been ordered to run concurrently.

2. Bindeshwari Prasad (P.W. 2) and Bhagwati Prasad (P.W. 3) are Constables who were posted at police Station Bangarmau in the district of Unnao at the relevant time. On the 4th of February, 1964 they left the police station at 4.05 P.M. on patrol duty. Moti appellant was wanted at police station Bangarmau in connection with an offence under Section 459 of the Indian Penal Code. Sub-Inspector Rameshwar Singh (P.W. 8), Station Officer of the police station had asked these Constables to arrest Moti. Both these constables during the course of their round reached Gani Muradabad. There they received information that Moti was in his village Khushrajpur and could be arrested. They proceeded on their bicycle to that village and from village Gani Muradabad they took along with them one Buddha (not examined as a witness in the case) and Ali Hasan (P.W. 6). They arrived in front of the shop of Bhabhuti Singh son of Lalita Singh appellant.

Then they saw Moti coming in that direction, according to the prosecution case, they arrested Moti and informed him that he was an accused under Section 459 of the Indian Penal Code. It was about 6 P.M. When these constables arrested Moti he began to raise alarm crying for help. All the other 14 appellants and Chunni who is a brother of Moti then rushed to his help. They are said to have asked the constables to set Moti free but the Constables informed them that they would take Him to the Police Station because he was an accused Four or five persons from out of these 35 persons were armed with dandas. They then rescued Moti from the detention of the Constables Moti also made an attempt to get himself extricated. Some of the appellants are said to have dealt danda blows on the person? of the two Constables. They also tore the shirts of the uniform which they were putting on and were instrumental in rescuing Moti.

On the raising of the alarm by the Constables, Kundan (P.W. 9) and Kuber (P.W. 5) and many others arrived on the scene. The Constables then went to the police station and lodged the information Ex. Ka 1 there. They were examined by Dr. I.C. Dixit, Medical Officer-in-charge Bangarmau Dispensary the next day at 9.40 P.M. The following injury was found on the person of Bindeshwari Prasad (P.W. 2). contusion 2" x 1" on the back of left thigh 12" above the left knee.

Following injuries were found on the person of Bhagwati Prasad (P.W. 3) who was examined ten minutes earlier by the same doctor :

1. Lacerated wound 1¼" x ¼" x scalp on the front of the Head 3½" above the bridge of the nose.

2. Abrasion ½" x ¼" on the top of right knee.

These injuries appeared to the doctor to be fresh and were caused by some blunt weapon. I






















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